Jan. 29 – Feb. 2 marked the second week of Microelectronics Commons (Commons) Hubs visits for representatives from the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Research & Engineering (OUSD(R&E)), Naval Surface Warfare Center (NSWC)-Crane Division, and National Security Technology Accelerator (NSTXL). Representatives traveled to Massachusetts and New York where they met with Hub leaders and members, as well as Governor Maura Healey and representatives from Congressional offices.

Representatives from the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Research & Engineering, Naval Surface Warfare Center (NSWC) — Crane Division, and National Security Technology Accelerator (NSTXL) will embark on a three-week tour across the nation, Jan. 22 to Feb. 9. Site visits will connect with the Microelectronics Commons Hubs, local government leaders, and experts from industry and academia to accelerate the prototyping of advanced microchips that will bolster our nation's military technological advantage.

The Commons is a CHIPS and Science Act-funded national network of eight regional innovation Hubs that will provide $2B from FY23 to FY27 for domestic microelectronics hardware prototyping and workforce development.  As part of President Biden's Investing in America agenda, the goal of the Commons is to connect regional organizations through Innovation Hubs to accelerate lab to fab prototyping for technology that is vital to the Department, and to strengthen local economies through a workforce that supports those regions, complementing programs run by the Department of Commerce and the National Science Foundation.

A consortium organized by Cornell and four other New York-based leaders in semiconductor research and development has been awarded $40 million by the U.S. Department of Defense to advance microelectronics innovation and manufacturing.

The award establishes NORDTECH – the Northeast Regional Defense Technology Hub – as part of the Defense Department’s Microelectronics Commons, a national network of eight regional innovation hubs dedicated to expanding the United States’ global leadership in microelectronics.

The five founding members of the hub are Cornell; the New York Center for Research, Economic Advancement, Technology, Engineering and Science (NY CREATES); the University at Albany College of Nanotechnology, Science, and Engineering (CNSE); Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI); and IBM.

NORDTech, A Consortium Of NY Defense And Semiconductor Manufacturing Powerhouses Including NY CREATES, UAlbany, Cornell University, RPI, IBM And More, Is Among First In The Nation To Tap Major Fed Investment From Schumer’s CHIPS And Science Act

Schumer Created DoD’s Microelectronic Commons Program To Encourage Commercialization Of Key Tech For U.S. Microelectronics And Designers, Bringing R&D From ‘Lab To Fab’— To Launch New Companies, Support The NY Semiconductor Workforce, And Secure This Critical Technology For National Security

Schumer: We Are Building Future Of America’s Semiconductor Industry Here In NY— And Now First Major Award From CHIPS & Science Act Is Here To Supercharge New York’s Chip Companies And Workforce!